Martin County approves multiple OMB grant applications, derelict‑vessel funding and FAA airport grant

At its Sept. 9 meeting the Martin County Board of County Commissioners approved a suite of Office of Management and Budget items that included grant applications, grant acceptances and a short‑term budget adjustment to fund a longstanding Sept. 11 commemorative event.

OMB director Stephanie Murley presented seven items. Among them, county staff received authorization to apply for an $88,492.50 grant from the Florida Inland Navigation District (FIND) for derelict‑vessel removal; the program requires a 25% local match that staff said is already budgeted in the county’s derelict vessel program. Murley also sought permission to apply for a $3,180 grant from the Surfing Evolution and Preservation Foundation to purchase advanced training mannequins for ocean rescue; Fire Rescue Ocean Rescue Chief Ian Mojula described the mannequins as tools for lifeguard and drowning‑scenario training.

The board authorized acceptance of an $865,949 Federal Aviation Administration grant to rehabilitate Taxi Lane Bravo at Witham Field; Murley said the Florida Department of Transportation will provide the 45% match (about $920,000) and the airport enterprise fund will cover the remaining roughly 12% (about $247,000), which is already budgeted.

Murley also presented a $120,000 request to amend a Florida Department of Environmental Protection Resilient Florida planning grant for the county’s adaptation plan, and acceptance of an opioid abatement amendment that increases the contract to $2.9 million to fund direct client services and diversion courts. The board approved a $26,488 state planning grant for the transportation‑disadvantaged program and accepted a $60,981 donation from US Sailing Center to help build overflow parking at Indian Riverside Park (the donation covers a gopher tortoise survey, site clearing and stormwater work).

A separate administrative request asked the board to allow the county administrator to temporarily advance $2,500 from general‑fund reserves to pay for lights and other items for a Sept. 11 memorial event in Commissioner Campey’s district; staff said the advance would be reimbursed when the FY‑26 budget is adopted. The board approved the temporary loan by consent.

Commission discussion included a short presentation on the FIND derelict‑vessel program and its operations; building department staff described coordination with law enforcement, an average removal cost for a 30‑foot fiberglass vessel, and that the county averages roughly 30 removals per year (with higher years noted). Murley and Mojula emphasized training and safety benefits for the small mannequin and ocean‑rescue grant.

All OMB items and associated budget actions were approved by the board without roll call opposition.